Pop centre pumps up search for designers

A 7m National Centre for Popular Music in Sheffield is waiting on an expected 3m of National Lottery funding before starting the hunt for three design consultancies.

The centre has announced an architectural competition, and will shortlist after it hears from the Arts Council in mid-September. It will then begin a search for designers.

“This will be a technology-based visitors and information centre telling the story of popular music,” says centre development director Tim Strickland. “We’ll inevitably be looking for designers with different skills.”

The centre is currently conducting “informal discussions” with Yorkshire consultancy Ideas and London consultancy Media Projects. It is not yet known if these consultancies will be approached for the pitch.

The themes for the centre will include the history and development of pop music, the recording process and a possible planetarium-type section focusing on sound.

“We already have private sponsorship, and have applied for funding from the European Regional Development Fund,” continues centre development director Strickland.

The Lottery Sports Fund has awarded 216 500 to London’s New River Athletic Stadium at Haringey in its latest round of grants. The Julie Rose Athletics Stadium in Ashford, Kent received just over 1m. Eton College received 3m towards a new sports complex and the Lottery has provided 65 per cent of funds for the 4.8m New Clissold Sports Centre in London’s Hackney.